Chemistry, B.Sc.
From pharmaceuticals to functional foods, smartphone displays, and biofuels: chemistry builds the foundation for many products of modern life. It imparts knowledge about the structure of all substances surrounding us – starting with the smallest particles, atoms and molecules, to daily substances, such as detergent, to large molecules, like human DNA.
Programme facts
| Degree | Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 semesters, 180 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.07 |
| Admission | No admission restriction: every eligible applicant is admitted |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €375.19 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Every applicant who meets the formal requirements is admitted — but places can run out before the deadline, so apply at the start of the window.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
Students learn not only what composes these substances, but they also acquire knowledge about how these are synthesized and how their structure and function can be determined.
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This also includes predicting the structure of new substances in order to produce materials with specific properties.
At RWTH students learn early on about important aspects of industrial use, such as the implementation of reactions in commercial production or the manufacture and use of polymers.
In order to acquire the necessary knowledge, students study the three classic subdisciplines of chemistry: inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry – supplemented with an introduction into technical chemistry and macromolecular chemistry.
What you study
Curriculum
| Semester | Lectures and Internships |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics |
| 3 to 5 | Advanced studies in Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Technical Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Apply Spectroscopy and Instrumental Analytics, Theory of Chemical Bonding, Chemistry in a practical work environment |
| 6 | Modern Methods of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry; Computational Chemistry Bachelor's Thesis – 3-month research project |
Electives
In a supplemental electives students acquire fundamental skills in another subject, for example engineering or economics or a foreign language.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
The career prospects for chemists are very good. Not just the chemical industry, but also the consumer goods industry, medicine, energy economy, pharmaceutical industry, suppliers – like car manufacturers –, and public service need well trained graduates.
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The high percentage of practical training in the Bachelor's curriculum qualifies graduates for certain jobs in laboratories.
In order to conduct research, most natural scientists finish a Master's and doctoral degree, though. Basic knowledge from Bachelor's studies are expanded into comprehensive scientific expertise and research skills, that the job market promotes.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €375.19 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Beginning students should enjoy scientific problems and have fun when combining practice and theory. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Directly to the university, winter semester until 15.07 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application directly to the university until 15.07Send the documents well before the deadline — an incomplete application cannot be completed after it.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.07.2027 (274 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.